1. Nelson, Moore, Burris, Gooden, and McBride were present.

2. No public or employees asked to be recognized.

3. Approved agenda without change.

4. Open Session:

Superintendent Andrea Evers made some general comments about the "Estimated Tax Levy". (The BOE member had a document in front of them which was evidently in their packets. No copy was available for the general public.)
• The District's Bookkeeper/Accountant, Janiece Blake, will make a presentation at the December BOE meeting.

• The District's Equalized Assessed Valuation (the assessed value of real estate within the District's limits) has gone down by 11%. This means that the individual tax bill will decrease by $1.70 (I think that's what she said) per $100 of assessed evaluation.

• Superintendent Evers indicated that the District was levying less, but that this was possible since the District was not involved in any litigation during the past year. (I swear to "ceiling cat", I did not laugh out loud at the financial benefit realized by not effing with the employees! I probably did do a good imitation of the Cheshire Cat! MEOW!!!)

5. No Closed Session!

6. Approved the Estimated Tax Levy.

7. Two "other" items:

• Superintendent Evers reminded the BOE members that 20 new members were being inducted into the Cairo High School Beta Club at 6 p.m. in the library and that they were welcome to stay and attend. She also mentioned that there were 22 current members.

• When BOE member Rodney Moore again raised the issue of teacher negotiations, Superintendent Evers interrupted him to state that, in fact, that was going to happen. Negotiations will begin in February with a focus on developing a teacher evaluation tool to meet the mid-April deadline under PERA. Upon the successful conclusion of that priority, the two sides will turn to other matters. Mr. Moore expressed his pleasure at the "progress...that the two sides are talking." Stay tuned!